Magnetic valve

ABSTRACT

A magnetically driven valve structure having a driving sleeve magnet operated by a motor and a driven magnet co-axial with the driving magnet connected to a valve. The housing for the motor and the driving magnet is separable from the valve structure to permit soldering the valve structure into a fluid circuit without deleterious effect on the motor, motor controls and driving magnet. The basic valve structure is a forging having a platform supporting the housing. The housing is centered on the forging equidistant from the ends thereof. The driven magnet is housed in a hat-like non-magnetic cylindrical enclosure on the forging, the flanges of the hat being sealed to the forging by a rolled over lange of the forging and an O-ring gasket. The driving magnet is compliantly connected to the motor to permit the driving magnet to align itself properly on the outside of the hat-like enclosure and with the driven magnet. The valve is a Teflon coated gate valve which is longitudinally compliantly mounted with respect to the driven magnet to permit the valve to seat properly without restraint. The valve is gasketed in its seat by an O-ring held by the valve which may ride vertically, with the valve, in an annular bore in the valve seat.

United States Patent 11 1 Gigantino et al.

[ July 24, 1973 MAGNETIC VALVE [75] Inventors: Otto M. Gigantino,Newark; Victor Parrill, Hawthorne; Leonard D. Gigantino, Maplewood, allof NJ.

[73] Assignee: Wm. Steinen Mfg. Co., Parsippany,

221 Filed: Jan. 27, 1972 211 Appl.No .:221,288

57 ABSTRACT A magnetically driven valve structure having a drivingsleeve magnet operated by a motor and a driven magnet co-axial with thedriving magnet connected to a valve. The housing for the motor and thedriving magnet is separable from the valve structure to permit solderingthe valve structure into a fluid circuit without deleterious effect onthe motor, motor controls and driving magnet. The basic valve structureis a forging having a platform supporting the housing. The housing iscentered on the forging equidistant from the ends thereof. The drivenmagnet is housed in a hat-like nonmagnetic cylindrical enclosure on theforging, the flanges of the hat being sealed to the forging by a rolledover lange of the forging and an O-ring gasket. The driving magnet iscompliantly connected to the motor [56] References Cited to permit thedriving magnet to align itself properly on UNITED STATES PATENTS theoutside of the hat-like enclosure and with the 3 347 262 10/1967 Gibson137/375 drive" magma The valve is a mated gm 213641700 12 1944 Eplett251/366 which is longitudinally compliantly mounted with 3,584,8336/1971 Grenier.... 251/366 x spect to the driven magnet to permit thevalve to seat 3,042,357 7/1962 Engholdt.. 251/133 X properly withoutrestraint. The valve is gasketed in its 3,176,720 4/1965 Donahue 251/133seat by an O-ring held by the valve which may rid 1 tically, with thevalve, in an annular bore in the valve Primary Examiner-Henry T.Klinksiek seat. Attorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb &' Soffen 6 Claims, 14Drawing Figures 176 I 'i lll /Z /Vi 77 I 52 17 if in PAIENIED 1 24% 3.747. 892

SHEEI 1 UP 3 MAGNETIC VALVE The present invention relates to a sealedvalve actuated by a rotary magnetic coupling and is an improvement overthe invention shown in US. Pat. No. 3,347,262 issued Oct. 17, 1967 toD.F. Gibson and now assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In the manufacture. of such sealed magnetically operated valves, it waspreviously assumed that it was necessary to use a casting for the mainsection of the fluid control element and that it was necessary so tointegrate all of the parts including the rotary magnetic coupling, thedrive for the valve and the casting so that they were substantiallyinseparable units not only sold as a unit but integrated as a unit; thiscreated thermal problems requiring additional apparatus and element inorder to permit the valve as a whole to be connected to the fluidcircuit which it was to control. Where the structure was thus integratedand where the fluid control section was a cast member it becamenecessary to provide heat barriers at each end so that the unit and theoperating parts and particularly the magnetic control elements would notbe disturbed or deactivated by the heat necessary to make the connectioninto the fluid circuit.

However by making the housing for the control element and the drivemember of the magnetic control device separable from the main unit,interference with the operation and function of the drive and control isprevented since these elements may be removed during an attachmentoperation which may involve heat. In addition, by forming the devicefrom a forging rather than a casting, the problems with respect to blowholes and consequent leakage or rejects are eliminated. It is possibleto make the forging end thinner and therefore less heat is required whensoldering or using any other heat treatment method to attach the controlelement in the fluid circuit thereby reducing the deleterious efiect ofheat on any of the operating parts and thereby making it unnecessary toutilize heat barrier or other protective elements.

In addition it was thought necessary in order to obtain proper alignmentand control to make the housing for the driven element of the magneticmember in such manner that it was supported by the basic casting ratherthan by another element secured thereto. The basic casting in priordevices was therefore designed with appropriate recesses and positioningelements or a cylinder to support the driven magnetic housing therebycomplicating the structure of the casting and complicating the assemblythereof. By providing a simple cover for the driven element of themagnetic element and integrating this cover as a unit, by a simplerollover and crimping operating with the basic fluid control structure,simplified assembly and improved operation can be obtained.

Essentially the invention contemplates the utilization of a fluidcontrol valve having a fluid control housing with a gate type valveinserted in the path of movement of the fluid the gate being so arrangedthat when it is rotated with the plane of the gate parallel to the pathof the fluid the fluid may flow and when the gate is rotated transverseto the path of the fluid the flow of fluid will be stopped. The gate isprovided with a teflon coating which will facilitate its rotation whileat the same time the nature of the coating inhibits the deposit ofimpurities thereon. The gate rotates in a guideway in which it mayaxially move to accommodate itself to variations in the driving element.The gate is positioned in and driven by the driven magnetic element of amagnetic sleeve coupling at the upper portion of the fluid controlledunit. The driven sleeve magnet is connected to the gate for rotarymotion but the gate may slide axially with respect thereto. This sleevemagnet is fully protected by a cylindrical covering of hat-shaped formwhich covers an opening in the forging above the gate slideway andpositioning section. This hat is then secured in this opening by aroll-over crimping operation hereinafter more fully described in detailwhich is provided with appropriate fluid seal arrangement and whichintegrates the hat with the remainder of the forgmg.

The drive apparatus consists of a sleeve magnet which may be positionedover the hat, the hat being formed of material which is sufficientlythin and nonmagnetic in character so that a rotary drive may beestablished between the driving magnetic sleeve and the driven magneticelement which latter is connected to the gate. The driving magneticsleeve is connected to the shaft of a motor in such manner that theconnection may have sufficient tolerance to permit complete adjustment.of the driving magnetic sleeve with respect to the hat which covers thedriven magnetic sleeve and with respect to the driven magnetic sleeve.

A housing is provided which carries a drive motor on an intermediateplatform, the shaft extending downwardly through the intermediateplatform and the driving magnetic sleeve being located below theintermediate platform. (It should be noted that orientation upper andlower is given here for the purpose of clarity in description. Theelements may actually operate in any orientation.)

A platform is secured to the forging in which is located the gate andthe conduit leading to and from the gate. The platform furnishes a basefor support of the housing, the housing being removable from the base.When the housing is secured to the base, the driving magnetic sleevelocated in and carried by the platform in the housing may, because ofthe tolerance built into the connection to the motor on the upper sideof the platform in the housing, adjust and align itself immediately incorrect axial relationship with the driven magnet and with theprotective hat or subcasing which covers the driven magnet.

A primary object of this invention therefore is the arrangement of asealed valve of the type actuated by rotary magnetic coupling so thatthe housing supporting all of the driving elements may readily beseparated from and reconnected to the valve body structure in the fieldand elsewhere.

Another object of the present invention is the arrangement of the driveelement for said valve so that the heat necessary in securing the valvebody in a fluid circuit will not have any deleterious effect on thevalve operating elements thereby eliminating the need for any protectiveheat barriers which had previously been thought necessary.

Another object of the present invention is the formation of the housingor enclosure for the driven element of the magnetic coupling so that itis a separate cylindrical enclosure which may readily be secured to thevalve structure rather than a member which is integral with the valvehousing.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a valve gatewhich is Teflon coated and which is arranged so that it may readily becompliant particularly in an axial direction with respect to the driveelement while nevertheless performing the function of opening the fluidcircuit or closing the fluid circuit.

The foregoing and many other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an expanded view in perspective showing the novel fluid valvemagnetic coupling operating device of the present invention with thehousing containing the drive element and the drive magnet shown partlyremoved from the valve structure.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure as shown in FIG. 1 showing acover element placed on the housing for the operating elements in orderto complete the same.

FIG. 3 is a view, corresponding to that of FIG. 1, in verticalcross-section showing the housing and the drive elements themselves inposition for the completely operative valve structure.

FIG. 4 is an end view of driven valve body without the housing takenfrom the end 4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view partly in section of the valve structure taken fromline 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the seal for the enclosure of the drivenmagnet of FIG. 3 showing the details thereof.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3, showingthe valve in closed position.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 7 showing the valve inopen position.

FIG. 9 is a view taken from line 9-9 of FIG. 3 look ing in the directionof. the arrows and showing the driving connection between the motorshaft and the outer sleeve or driving magnet.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the gate valve of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.

FIG. 11 is an elevation of the gate valve.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the gate valve.

FIG. 13 is an expanded view in perspective showing the method of drivingconnection between the inner driven magnet and the gate valve.

FIG. 14 is a schematic of the circuit for actuating the driving motorinorder to operate the valve arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, the valve unit 30, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3comprises a forging 31 which is essentially a cylindrical body 32 havinga pair of oppositely disposed ports 33 and 34; a central cylindricalvalve seat 35 which is seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes theshoulders 35a, 35b which project vertically inwardly from the internalsides of the tubular or cylindrical member 32. Preferably this valveseat 35 is located substantially equidistant from the ports 33 and 34.connected of the ports 33 continuous may constitute the influent oreffluent section of the valve structure, the orientation andconstruction being such that the direction of flow of platform fluiddoes not affect the method of operation of the valve.

The utilization of a forging rather than a casting provides a number ofadvantages among which are: It is more economical to make and provides abetter looking pipe. The alloy used in the forging makes it easier tocrimp than would be the case with a casting; hence the method ofsecuring the protective casing and seal for the inner or driven magnetwhich is connected to the valve gate as hereinafter described becomessimpler, more economical and more secure. In the forging there are noleaks because there are no blow holes; therefore it is more reliable andthere are fewer rejects. It is possible to make the forging end thinneras shown adjacent the effluent or influent openings 33, 34 and thereforeless heat is required when soldering. As a result there is lesslikelihood of damage to the various parts and special protective meansor barriers to protect the operating elements from the effect of theheat generated while making the solder connection into the fluid circuitare obviated.

The portion of the forging adjacent the upper part of the valve seat isthickened to provide the horizontal platform 40 which is integral withthe forging forming the pipe 32 but extends tangentially thereof beingcon-,

nection thereto by the integral c ntinuous rib 41 on each side. Theextensions 42 on each side of the platform 40 provide a means forsupporting an additional auxiliary plateform hereinafter described whichwill support the housing for the operating elements also hereinafterdescribed. The thickening of the forging at the platform 40 providesincreased structural strength for the valve seat 35 which continues at35c as a central opening in the platform 40 and also provides astructure which is sufficiently strong to provide an efficient supportfor the housing and the driving elements hereinafter described as wellas the auxiliary platform on which they rest.

The forging 31 forming the pipe 32 is also provided with the integraldownward pipe-like extension 44 which forms the bottom portion 35d ofthe valve seat which is provided with a plug 45 which may be threaded inas shown and appropriately gasketed as shown at the gasket location 46to provide an efficient seal for the lower portion of the valve seat.

The gate valve 50 comprises a vertically longitudinal structurepreferably metallic which is coated with Teflon in order to lubricate itin operation and to provide a surface to which impurities may notreadily adhere. The gate valve 50 comprises the gate section 51 which isessentially a flat vertical element which may be rotated from theposition shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8 and back again(or forward another in the valve seat elements 35, 35 in order to openand close the passage through pipe 32. The gate valve 51 is providedwith upper and lower cylindrical bearing sections 52, 53. The uppersection 52 rotates in the circular opening 350 in the platform 40 andthe lower cylindrical section 53 rotates in the pipe extension 44extending downwardly from the pipe 32 aligned with and opposite to theopening 35c in platform 40.

It should here be pointed out again that the terms upper and lower areused with respect to the drawings in order to provide a reference point;this terminology however should not be interpreted to require that thevalve structure be used in the positions shown since the structure iscapable of being used in any orientation. For reasons hereinafterdescribed the gate valve 50 should have some vertical compliance in thevalve seat 35 and valve seat elements 35c, 35d. Accordingly it becomesdesirable to provide an appropriate sliding gasket particularly at thebottom part 44 which is at right angles to the pipe 32. For this reasonthe gate valve structure 50 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and12 in which it may be seen that an O-ring 60 may be captured in the gatevalve 50 at its lower end in a groove 64 at the lower cylindrical end 63of the gate valve 50. The said lower cylindrical element end 63 thus hasan annular recess 64 formed therein defined by the end 61 extendingbeyond the recess to form a channel between the elements 64 and 63 formounting the O-ring or other appropriate gasketing element 60 therein.The pipe 44 which forms the lower portion of the valve seat is providedwith an inner annular groove (FIG. 3) 66 which will receive the Oring 60and will provide an appropriate watertight seal between the gate valve50 at the O-ring 60 and the groove 66 when the plug 45 is removed. Theannular groove 66 is vertically wider than the -ring 60 so that the gatevalve 50 may move vertically in the valve seat to align with theoperating elements.

The upper cylindrical section 52 of the gate valve may similarly movevertically in the opening in the upper platform 40. This passage howeverneed not be gasketed since an appropriate watertight seal for thispurpose is provided by the cover 70 around the upper driven magnet 71which is connected to the gate valve in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

The cover 70 for the internal or driven magnet 71 is formedof a materialwhich does not impede the operation of the magnetic forces and issufficiently thin to permit cooperation between the driving and drivenmagnet to occur with the driven magnet inside the cover 70 and thedriving magnet outside the cover 70. An annular groove 73 is formed inthe upper surface of platform 40 surrounding the opening 350 in theplatform 40 which serves as a valve seat. The material upset from thisannular groove 73 provides crimping section 74 which is also annular.The cover element70 for the magnet 71 has a cylindrical section 75 whichis integral with the top section 76 and is provided with a lower annularextension having the flat horizontal flange 77 as shown in detail inFIG. 6. The flat horizontal flange 77 is placed on O-ring 78 in thegroove 73 and the circular crimping element 74 is rolled over onto theextension 77 of the cover 70 compressing the O-ring 78 between theflange 77 and the base of groove 73 thereby providing an efficient sealat and surrounding the magnet 71 and the valve member 50. Therefore thegasket 46 at the lower end of the pipe 44 and the gasket 73 sealing theflange 77 of the cover member 70 provide a complete seal for the valvestructure preventing leakage from the interior of the pipe 31.

in prior structures the flange 77 of the cylindrical section 75 wasactually welded to platform 40. This was unreliable however due topossible damage both to the cover and to the magnet which was requiredto withstand the welding heat as well as the welding stresses. In thepresent construction the O-ring provides an efficient seal between thecomplete enclosing structure 70 and the pipe.

This 0 ring construction entails much less labor and is far morereliable than prior devices. Also the unit is far less complicated indesign and construction. The upper crimping flange 74 it should be notedis rolled on rather than being bent over.-This construction provides anarrangement which is stronger than the 90 angle that would occur in abend and which might break under tensile stresses whereas the rolledform would not break in any bending stress. The material of O-rings 60,46 and 73 is such that it has a high resistance to temperature andtherefore is not affected by the heat of soldering and there is no needto shield or protect the O-ring.

What is far more important, however, is that by the utilization of thehat construction there is no need to weldany cover adjacent the innermagnet 71 and therefore the magnet is not subject to the deleteriouseffect of heat. The deleterious effect of heat is also avoided byforming the ends adjacent the openings 33 and 34 so that they arethinned down and therefore more easily soldered to the connecting pipeson either side thereby not only reducing the effect of heat but alsoobviating the need for barriers between the source of heat and theremainder of the unit. In addition the outer or driving magnet 80 ashereinafter described and the entire housing containing the motor andcarrying the magnet may readily be removed during any connectingoperation thereby separating the motor and the upper magnet completelyfrom any source of heat during the connecting operation and therebymaking the unit as a whole in assembly and in operation far morereliable.

The placement of the O-ring 60 on the gate valve 50 rather than in theinternal bore of the pipe 44 provides a means for absolutely assuringthe positioning of the O-ring 60 by the appropriate tightening of theplug 45. This is an improvement over the utilization of an internalgroove in the bore of pipe 44 wherein the O-ring is hopefully positionedinside the groove and hopefully retains its position with respect to anysliding forces.

The inner magnet'7l serves as the drive for the gate valve 50. However,the gate valve 50 should have some compliance with respect to the innermagnet 71. In order to provide for such compliance, the magnet 71 andthe gate valve 50 are substantially centered with respect to each otherby the cylindrical'projection 81 from the top of the gate valve enteringinto the opening 82 at the bottom of the magnet thereby providingpositioning with respect to the magnet 71 and the gate valve 50. Theupper surface 83 of the gate valve 50 adjacent the cylindricalprojection 81 need not necessarily come in contact with the lowersurface of the magnet 71 at the opening 82 as long as the cylindricalportion 81 extends into the opening 82 to provide for relativepositioning. By this means therefore and because of the dimensioning ofthe surface 83 with respect to the length of the gate valve 50 betweenthe surface 83. and the bottom 61 there is sufficient room verticallyfor the gate valve to adjust itself automatically vertically. A drivebetween the inner magnet 71 and the gate valve 50 is established by theflat portions 85, 85 of the main cylindrical extension 86 of the gatevalve 50. These flat portions 85, 85 fit in the slot 87 formed betweenthe elements 88 and 89 of the magnet 71 so that a driving connectionbetween the magnet 71 and the gate valve 50 is established. Since theproper open position of the gate valve 50 is shown in FIG. 8 and theproper closed position is shown in FIG. 7 and since the driven magnet 71will be moved to either of these two positions by the driving magnet ashereinafter described and since these two positions must be established,the rotational drive between the magnet 71 and the gate valve 50 istherefore required to be accurate and for this reason there is a closefit between the flat side 85, 85 of the extension 86 of the gate valve50 and the slot 87 of the driven magnet 71.

As shown particularly in FIG. 1 as well as in F168. 3, 4 and 5 a housingsupporting platform 108 is mounted on the forging platform 40 in anysuitable manner. in the particular embodiment shown, the housingsupporting platform 100 is provided with a pair of extensions 101, 102front and back which may be crimped through and under a slot 103, 104 inthe front and back of the platform 40. The housing supporting platform100 is provided with a circular opening 106 which passes over theenclosure or hat 70 for the internal driven magnet 71. The housing 110has a rear wall 111 from which is bent or otherwise formed a top wall112 and side walls 1 13 and 114. The side wall 113 is cut out at therectangular section 115 to provide a recess in which is supported aninsulating terminal strip or block 116 which is supported in anyappropriate manner as by the L-shaped bracket 117 carried on thehorizontal wall 118 of phenolyic or other insulating material 118. Thewall 1 18 is supported in the housing by protrusions 118A extending fromwall 118 and snapped into slots 120 which are in the rear wall 111 andfront wall 180 of housing 110. A driving motor 125 is contained withinthe housing 110 supported by the legs 126 on the insulating wall 118 andprovided with a gear train in housing 127 terminating in the drive shaft128 which extends through the center of the switch wafer 135. The switchwafer 135 is separately supported by appropriate support legs 136 on theinsulating platform 118. The drive shaft 128 terminates in a drivesection 140 of generally rectangular cross-section passing through thecircular opening 141 of the horizontal carrier 142 of the driving magnet80. The horizontal carrier 142 secured to the driving magnet 80 iscarried on the rectangular extension 140 with flange 145 of the driveshaft 128 by press fit which secures it thereto and prevents it fromfalling off.

Projecting points 150 from the opening 141 (FIG. 9) of the horizontalcarrier 142 of the external magnet 80 is so arranged as the squaresection 140 of the drive shaft engages these points 150 it will rotatethe external magnet 80. It will be noted that with respect to FIGS. 7and 8 that the angular distance between the closed and open position ofthe gate valve 50 is 90 and this construction as shown in- FIG. 9provides a lost motion connection between the driving motor 125 inhousing 110 and the driving magnet 80 so that if gate 50 or magnet 71 isstuck the carrier 142 will rotate freely, due to magnetic reaction, inthe same direction away from its driven position shown in FIG. 9 to aposition approximately 90 counterclockwise from FIG. 9. The motor willcontinue to rotate the square section 140 counterclockwise and thenreengage carrier 142 to continue to drive it in a counterclockwisedirection. This eliminates a shock moment force on the motion shaft andthis prevents damage to the gear train or clutch of the motor. Thus onrotation of the motor and the squared section 140 of the shaft in thecounterclockwise direction, the square shaft 140 will rotate and pick upthe projections 150 to rotate the magnet and effect the opening orclosing of the valve. If the valve or magnet is not stuck, a rotation ofthe order of 90 of the motor shaft 140 will in each case result in a 90rotation of the driving magnet 80 and therefore a 90 rotation of thegate valve 50.

It should also be noted that if the motor rotates in a single direction,then each 90 rotation of the shaft 140 will result in changing theposition of gate valve 50 from open to closed or closed to openposition. In previous devices, chrome plated brass was used for the gateand this had a possibility of binding. In the present unit the gate iscoated with teflon. This prevents sticking between the gate and the basebody and therefore serves as a lubricant. Also the teflon preventsforeign particles in the fluid from building up on the gate 50 andwithin the valve. There is also less friction of the fluid going throughthe valve owing to a smoother surface of the gate valve.

The housing supporting platform is provided with upstanding supports160, 161, 162 and upstanding positioning elements 163, 164 and 165 forthe housing 110. The side walls 114 and 113 of the housing are slottedat 170, 171 as shown with the slots extending to the bottom of the saidside walls. These slots may pass between the heads of screws 173, 174,175 and their respective support elements 161, and 162. After thehousing is placed on the platform positioning elements 164, 165, 163 thescrews may be tightened and hold the housing in position. When it isdesired to remove the housing as shown in FIG. 1, these screws 173, 174,may be loosened and the housing lifted off.

Thus when it is necessary to connect the valve body in a fluid circuitand apply heat to the ends 33, 34 of pipe 32 the screws 173, 174, 175may be loosened and the housing lifted off so that the main drivingmagnet 80 and the motor are not subjected to any heat at all. Also,again, since the ends 33, 34 may be thinned down, the amount ofsoldering necessary both with respect to the amount of heat and thelength of time to which the unit is subjected to heat are greatlyreduced so that the internal driven magnet 71 is not deleteriouslyeffected. Also by reason of the fact that the entire valve seat 35 andthe valve gate 50 is centrally located thereby centrally locating theinternal driven magnet 71 as well as centrally locating the drivingelements the structure is such that the elements are equidistant fromthe ends 33, 34 of the pipe and no special heat barriers are required onany particular side.

To complete the structure the housing 110 may be provided with a frontwall secured thereto in any suitable manner and as indicated in FIG. 2.This front wall 180 may be provided with an opening 181, the side of thedriving magnet 80 may be provided with appropriate indicia showing theopen and closed position of the valve, said indicia being visiblethrough the opening 181.

As previously pointed out this invention may be regarded as animprovement of the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,262 and themagnetic operation of the unit is as therein described. However, theunit as shown in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,262 is arranged sothat when installed and when in use the entire unit is completelyintegrated. In the present device as already described, the housing 110including the drive magnet 80, the motor in subhousing 125 and theelectrical element may be removed when the device is installed. Whencompletion of installation of the unit occurs, then the housing 110 maybe located on the housing support platform 100 as previously described.The interior of magnet 80 now receives and rides on the outside of theenclosure 70 for the inner magnet 71. Owing to the construction andexpected operation of the magnet, the inner magnet 71 connected to thegate valve 50 will immediately orient itself with respect to the outeror driving magnet 80 matching the indicia on the driving magnet foreither the closed or open position of the gate depending on the bentposition of the driving magnet. Consequently the indicia closed" or openvisible through the window 181 of the front 180 of the housing 110 willindicate the condition of the valve gate whether open or closed. Thevalve may also be manually operated by rotating the driving magnet byfinger pressure through slot 181 in a direction consistent with the geartrain.

FIG. 14 shows a circuit which may typically be used for operation of themotor under the control of the switch 135. Essentially the switch 135 isarranged to halt the operation of the motor at the appropriate angularposition of the motor the drive shaft and the driving magnet 80, that iswhen the driving magnet 80 is in one position and squared end 140 of themotor shaft is in a similar position, the motor may be started in orderto operate the motor in a direction to move the gate valve 90 to theother position of the gate valve. When the 90 rotation is reached thecam 200 or 201 will open the circuit to the motor and stop it. This haltwill then be at either a closed or open position of the gate valve.Thereafter when the motor is energized once more, it will operate in thesame direction to move the gate valve through another 90 degrees atwhich time the circuit will again be opened by one of the cams 200, 201.

The particular circuit and relay which achieves this result, althoughknown, isnot an essential part of the present invention as long as cam200 or 201 is used to halt the motor when the next (open or closed)position of the valve is reached. It is possible also to halt theoperation of the motor at an intermediate position to leave the gatevalve partly open and thus to control the quantity or rate of flowthrough the valve.

The particular parameters of the circuit are not essential to a fullunderstanding of the present invention since it is obvious that themotor here can rotate unidirectionally with the motor being started byclosing an appropriate'switch or operating the relay 210 to start themotor in a circuit which includes the diodes 213 and 214. The circuit tothe motor is then opened when cam 200 passes elements 211, 212 of theswitch 135. Thereafter when it is desired to move the gate 90 once more,to an alternate (closed or open) position then the motor may be startedonce more bypassing elements 211, 212 of the switch. On completion of 90rotation of motor shaft 140 cam element 201 will move to open the switch211, 212 and halt the motor. When it is desired now to go to the nextoperative position of the valve, the motor is started again andoperating in the same direction the cam element 200 will operate to haltthe motor. Thus the motor may operate unidirectionally. No reversal isneeded since the valve gate for every 90 rotational will move to eitherthe next open or closed position of the valve system.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in connection with anembodiment which is primarily illustrative and represents a form whichhas been found to be appropriate and useful. One of the essentialelements is the removability and hence replaceability of the housing forthe motor and the driving magnet. The driving magnet which is mounted onthe motor shaft, the motor which is mounted on theinsulating supportwithin the housing, the switch which is mounted on the said insulatingsupport, the terminal block and circuit connectors which are mounted onaninset in the side of th e housing all provide a structure withinthe=housing which is removableand separable from the valve body andwhich may nevertheless readily be connected thereto and disconnectedtherefrom. The flexible connection of the driving magnet to the motorshaft in such manner that it may rock and adjust itself both axially andalso laterally in order to comply with the dimensional arrangement ofthe cover for the internal driven magnet 71 provides for a simplifiedinterconnection and separation. On loosening the three screws 173, 174,175, the housing may be removed. When the housing is replaced'thedriving and driven magnet auto matically align themselves and the screws173, 174, are tightened and the entire unit is integrated and ready foroperation. The utilization of the insulating base for supporting thedriving magnet, the motor, the switch element and the circuitconnections provides for protection and insulation of the motor andcircuit connections from the possibly deleterious effect of any hotwater passing through the pipe valve. The structure lends itself to themounting of the terminal board as shown and the various connectionshigher and further removed from the valve and its solder points. Againit must be emphasized that the valve may be soldered in position withthe housing containing all of the electrical magnets and the drivingmagnet removed so that a deleterious effect from the heat of solder-willnot be transmitted thereto. The utilization of the forging rather thanthe casting eliminates not only the possible blow holes but also makesit possible to provide a unit which is more readily worked in which theends of the pipe opening may be made thinner and thus make-it possibleto utilize less heat for a shorter period of time to effect aninterconnection in the fluid circuit. The utilization of the hat likecover 70 for the inner magnet 71 provides not only economies ofmanufacture but eliminates the need for welding any cover in place andthereby eliminates any possible deleterious effect on the inner ordriven magnet, while nevertheless providing a simplified seal which isstronger than prior seals.

The utilization and location of O-rings which can resist the heat ofsoldering as well as the heat which may occur from the hot water passingthrough and the location of the O-rings between the hat and the integralplatform 40 as well as the location of the O-ring in the gate valveitself rather than in the bore of the gate valve provide for simplifiedoperation and assurance of accurate operation. The utilization of Tefloncoating for the gate valve provides the beneficial effects previouslydescribed. The utilization of a symmetrical construction ensures thatthe appropriate calculations may readily be made with respect to theheat of soldering as well as the time of soldering .in order to ensurethat the operation of connecting the valve structure into the pipe willproceed smoothly and without deleterious effect on the remainder of thestructure. All of these elements taken together and in combinationprovide for an improved valve construction which will not onlyfacilitate installation and replacement and repair but will also be longlived.

since the foregoing invention has been described in connection with anillustrative embodiment which however illustrates and demonstrates thevarious principles'involved, it is preferred that the scope of thisinvention be defined not by the specific embodiments herein containedbut only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege orproperty is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a valve structure having a substantially longitudinal cylindricalbase, said base having a longitudinal bore terminating in influent andeffluent ports connectable in a fluid circuit,

a valve seat normal to said bore and situated between said ports,

a rotatable valve in said valve seat,

a driven magnet,

said rotatable valve being connected to said drive magnet,

said cylindrical base having a tangential platform, an opening in saidplatform communicating with said bore and valve seat,

a cylindrical hat-like structure of non-magnetic material secured atsaid opening and containing said driven magnet,

said cylindrical hat-like structure being sealed to said platform,

and a housing supported on said platform,

a driving motor carried in said housing,

a cylindrical driving magnet in said housing compliantly connected toand driven by said motor,

said driving magnet surrounding said cylindrical hatlike structure andestablishing a driving magnetic connection to said driven magnet, I

the housing being provided with an additional platform of insulatingmaterial extending substantially parallel to the first mentionedplatform,

said motor being mounted on said claim platform on the side thereofremote from the first mentioned platform.

2. The valve structure of claim 1 having a gear train connected to themotor, and a shaft connected to the gear train and controls for themotor,

said gear train and controls being mounted on the same side of theadditional platform as the motor, and

a shaft extending from the gear train through the additional platform,

the driving magnet being compliantly connected to said shaft below saidadditional platform.

3. The valve structure of claim 2 wherein said housing is removable andreplaceable on said first mentioned platform; the said housing togetherwith the motor, gear train, controls, shaft and driving magnet beingremovable from the longitudinal cylindrical base to permit heatgenerating operations to be performed on the valve structure with thesaid housing and elements contained thereby removed.

4. in a valve structure having a substantially longitudinal cylindricalbase, said base having a longitudinal bore terminating in influent andeffluent ports connectable in a fluid circuit,

a valve seat normal to said bore and situated between said ports,

a rotatable valve in said valve seat,

a driven magnet,

said rotatable valve being connected to said driven magnet,

said cylindrical base having a tangential platform, an opening in saidplatform communicating with said bore and valve seat,

a cylindrical hat-like structure of non-magnetic material secured atsaid opening and containing said driven magnet,

said cylindrical hat-like structure being sealed to said platform,

and a housing supported on said platform,

a driving motor carried in said housing,

a cylindrical driving magnet in said housing compliantly connected toand driven by said motor,

said driving magnet surrounding said cylindrical hatlike structure andestablishing a driving magnetic connection to said driven magnet,

the rotatable valve being a Teflon coated gate valve having an annularO-ring carried thereby at the section opposite the end connected to thedriven magnet,

and an annular recess in the valve seat wider than the O-ring, theO-ring engaging the base of said recess, the width of said recesspermitting said gate valve to move axially with respect to said valveseat.

5. In a valve structure having a substantially longitudinal cylindricalbase, said base having a longitudinal bore terminating in influent andeffluent ports connectable in a fluid circuit,

a valve seat normal to said bore and situated between said ports,

a rotatable valve in said valve seat,

a driven magnet,

said rotatable valve being connected to said driven magnet,

said cylindrical base having a tangential platform, an opening in saidplatform communicating with said bore and valve seat,

a cylindrical hat-like structure of non-magnetic material secured atsaid opening and containing said driven magnet,

said cylindrical hat-like structure being sealed to said platform,

and a housing supported on said platform,

a driving motor carried in said housing,

a cylindrical driving magnet in said housing compliantly connected toand driven by said motor,

said driving magnet surrounding said cylindrical hatlike structure andestablishing a driving magnetic connection to said driven magnet,

the compliant connection between the motor and the driving magnetcomprising a shaft driven by the motor;

a carrier for the driving magnet, and an opening in said carrier, theshaft extending through said opening,

the opening being circular and the shaft having a rectangularcross-section; means supporting the carrier on the end of said shaft andpermitting the carrier and driving magnet to rock on said shaft,

the driving magnet being fixed with respect to said carrier,

and a driving connection between the shaft and carrier comprisingprojections in the opening in the carrier extending in the path ofrotational movement of an edge of said rectangular shaft.

6. The valve structure of claim 5 in which said projections on saidcarrier are located lfrom each other to permit lost motion of saiddriving magnet due to magnetic-reaction in the same direction ahead ofsaid shaft so that thereafter said shaft driven by said motor will catchup to and continue to drive said driving magnet in the same direction.

1. In a valve structure having a substantially longitudinal cylindricalbase, said base having a longitudinal bore terminating in influent andeffluent ports connectable in a fluid circuit, a valve seat normal tosaid bore and situated between said ports, a rotatable valve in saidvalve seat, a driven magnet, said rotatable valve being connected tosaid drive magnet, said cylindrical base having a tangential platform,an opening in said platform communicating with said bore and valve seat,a cylindrical hat-like structure of non-magnetic material secured atsaid opening and containing said driven magnet, said cylindricalhat-like structure being sealed to said platform, and a housingsupported on said platform, a driving motor carried in said housing, acylindrical driving magnet in said housing compliantly connected to anddriven by said motor, said driving magnet surrounding said cylindricalhat-like structure and establishing a driving magnetic connection tosaid driven magnet, the housing being provided with an additionalplatform of insulating material extending substantially parallel to thefirst mentioned platform, said motor being mounted on said claimplatform on the side thereof remote from the first mentioned platform.2. The valve structure of claim 1 having a gear train connected to themotor, and a shaft connected to the gear train and controls for themotor, said gear train and controls being mounted on the same side ofthe additional platform as the motor, and a shaft extending from thegear train through the additional platform, the driving magnet beingcompliantly connected to said shaft below said additional platform. 3.The valve structure of claim 2 wherein said housing is removable andreplaceable on said first mentioned platform; the said housing togetherwith the motor, gear train, controls, shaft and driving magnet beingremovable from the longitudinal cylindrical base to permit heatgenerating operations to be performed on the valve structure with thesaid housing and elements contained thereby removed.
 4. In a valvestructure having a substantially longitudinal cylindrical base, saidbase having a longitudinal bore terminating in influent and effluentports connectable in a fluid circuit, a valve seat normal to said boreand situated between said ports, a rotatable valve in said valve seat, adriven magnet, said rotatable valve being connected to said drivenmagnet, said cylindrical base having a tangential platform, an openingin said platform communicating with said bore and valve seat, acylindrical hat-like structure of non-magnetic material secured at saidopening and containing said driven magnet, said cylindrical hat-likestructure being sealed to said platform, and a housing supported on saidplatform, a driving motor carried in said housing, a cylindrical drivingmagnet in said housing compliantly conNected to and driven by saidmotor, said driving magnet surrounding said cylindrical hat-likestructure and establishing a driving magnetic connection to said drivenmagnet, the rotatable valve being a Teflon coated gate valve having anannular O-ring carried thereby at the section opposite the end connectedto the driven magnet, and an annular recess in the valve seat wider thanthe O-ring, the O-ring engaging the base of said recess, the width ofsaid recess permitting said gate valve to move axially with respect tosaid valve seat.
 5. In a valve structure having a substantiallylongitudinal cylindrical base, said base having a longitudinal boreterminating in influent and effluent ports connectable in a fluidcircuit, a valve seat normal to said bore and situated between saidports, a rotatable valve in said valve seat, a driven magnet, saidrotatable valve being connected to said driven magnet, said cylindricalbase having a tangential platform, an opening in said platformcommunicating with said bore and valve seat, a cylindrical hat-likestructure of non-magnetic material secured at said opening andcontaining said driven magnet, said cylindrical hat-like structure beingsealed to said platform, and a housing supported on said platform, adriving motor carried in said housing, a cylindrical driving magnet insaid housing compliantly connected to and driven by said motor, saiddriving magnet surrounding said cylindrical hat-like structure andestablishing a driving magnetic connection to said driven magnet, thecompliant connection between the motor and the driving magnet comprisinga shaft driven by the motor; a carrier for the driving magnet, and anopening in said carrier, the shaft extending through said opening, theopening being circular and the shaft having a rectangular cross-section;means supporting the carrier on the end of said shaft and permitting thecarrier and driving magnet to rock on said shaft, the driving magnetbeing fixed with respect to said carrier, and a driving connectionbetween the shaft and carrier comprising projections in the opening inthe carrier extending in the path of rotational movement of an edge ofsaid rectangular shaft.
 6. The valve structure of claim 5 in which saidprojections on said carrier are located 180* from each other to permitlost motion of said driving magnet due to magnetic reaction in the samedirection ahead of said shaft so that thereafter said shaft driven bysaid motor will catch up to and continue to drive said driving magnet inthe same direction.